Subscribers to my newsletter know that I have been working on the first of a planned three-volume Reader's Commentary on the Book of Enoch. That first volume is now shipping on Amazon: A Companion to the Book of Enoch: A Reader's Commentary, Vol I: The Book of the...
1 Enoch
Is the Pseudo-Archaeological Belief That Aliens, Nephilim, Or Descendants of Atlantis Were Responsible for Pyramids, Mounds, Megalithic Architecture, Etc. Racist?
Short Answer: Yes (at least for some, like Erich von Daniken). Slightly Longer Answer: Yes, because some presume that humans in antiquity were so primitive they could not build these things without the assistance of non-human intelligence. Then, an elect super-race...
Should the Book of Enoch be in the Bible?
Should the Book of Enoch be in the Bible? https://vimeo.com/294417322
Nephilim Question from Doctoral Colloquium
I recently participated in a doctoral colloquium where students were required to read my book The Unseen Realm. It was fun, and I'm grateful to all who took part and considered the book stimulating reading for the colloquium. One of the questions focused on an excerpt...
Heavenly Worship in Second Temple Judaism, Early Christianity, and Gnostic Sects: Part 2
By guest blogger Stephen L. Huebscher STEP THREE: LOOKING AT THE THREE GROUPS INDIVIDUALLY CONCEPTIONS OF HEAVENLY WORSHIP IN SECOND TEMPLE JUDAISM The variety of groups and beliefs at this time was reflected in the variety of sacred texts used. It was common to...
Naked Bible Podcast Episode 148: Q & A Number 19
The episode is now live. In Episode 148 of the Naked Bible Podcast, Dr. Michael Heiser tackles deep theological questions from listeners on topics ranging from spiritual death to the divine beings in Genesis and the resurgence of Gnosticism in modern Christian...
My New Book Reversing Hermon is Now Available for Pre-Order
Someone sent me an email a week ago that my new book, Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ, was available for pre-order. Sorry I forgot to blog it then. It's been number 1 in the angels and demons new releases category since...
The Function of the Divine Council in Heavenly Worship: Piety, not Mysticism: Part 4
[Note: This post continues where Part 3 left off. It includes the rest of the main biblical as well as non-biblical ancient Jewish texts.-- MSH] Psalm 97:7–9. “All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you...
Naked Bible 94: The Sin of the Watchers and Galatians 3-4
Biblical scholars know that Paul subordinates the Law to Christ (Gal 3:1-18). He writes about how the Law could not result in the fruition of the promises given to Abraham (and, by extension, to all nations; Gen 12:1-3). Paul then asks “Why then was the law given?” He...
Naked Bible 93: The Book of Enoch in the Early Church
The book we know as 1 Enoch was well known to early Christians. Its importance produced an understandable question among some influential early Christian writers and, one may presume, Christians in general: Should 1 Enoch be considered inspired and thus “Scripture” in...
Naked Bible 92: Stones of Fire
Ezekiel 28:14, 16 describe an “anointed cherub” who walked in the midst of “the stones of fire” and was removed from among “the stones of fire.” What are the stones of fire? What do these verses describe? How do the phrases relate to what’s going on in Ezekiel 28 and...
4 Enoch – An Online Resource, Not a Pseudepigraphical Book
Fans of 1 Enoch will find the Wiki resource 4 Enoch eminently useful. Gabriele Boccaccini, a noted scholar of Second Temple Judaism, has a terrific overview of the history of 1 Enoch research and publication. Underneath that survey readers will find hundreds of links...
Impressions on the Noah Movie
I went to see Noah last evening. I had briefly blogged about it earlier to draw readers' attention to Brian Mattson's review, which I highly recommend. I'm not going to recycle his observations. I just wanted to share some impressions. This is s a weird movie. Not in...
Aronofsky’s Noah Movie: What It Teaches Us About Christian Ignorance from the Pulpit to the Pew
I'm going to see Noah this week. In preparation, I've been reading reviews. If you do the same what you'll likely find is a mixture of cautious endorsement ("Hey, it's got crappy Bible content, but it starts a spiritual conversation") and condemnation. Most of the...
Society of Biblical Literature Papers Available Online
This link from the Ancient World Online (AWOL) will take you to a few dozen SBL seminar papers that have been made available for free. These were all SBL conference papers. Some that I downloaded: Michael Pietsch, University of Hamburg Prophetess of Doom:...